> These institutions of "higher learning" became what they became because people trusted them to be impartial.
So when Universities believed[1] that African Americans were indeed an inferior race of humans they were being impartial? Not to mention that many of the great (old) western universities were closely affiliated with various churches for most of their history[2].
Universities were always part of society and as such they reflected the status quo at the time. They were not and are not "impartial". They are institutions of "higher learning" because they provide the resources and freedom for their professors to explore ideas that may have no commercial or practical benefit. That's it! As a result of this freedom, ideas coming out of Universities have often moved society/technology forwards.
Businesses that hire "talented and driven people" are probably not going to let them get paid while exploring the nature of the Higgs Boson or the philosophy or Nietzche.
[1] http://www.newrepublic.com/article/121382/forgotten-racist-p...
"University scholars of the time argued that the racial inferiority of people of African descent justified their enslavement, and that enslavement would bring blacks closer to Christian salvation."
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_University#19th_centur...